Table 2 Tasks and agent types involved in these tasks

1

Make OR master schedule

x

x

x

x

x

Make the OR master schedule in which operating time for each medical discipline is allocated to the operating rooms for even and uneven weeks.

2

Make clinical bed plan

x

x

x

Make the clinical bed plan in which beds are allocated to medical disciplines per nursing ward for even and uneven weeks.

3

Schedule surgeons and anesthesiologists

x

x

x

Determine the working hours for every surgeon and anesthesiologist for the upcoming three to six months, including where they are working, i.e., in the outpatient department and the OTC.

4

Schedule OTC nurses

X

x

x

X

x

x

Determine the working hours for every nurse anesthetist, OR, holding and recovery nurse for the upcoming three to six months.

5

Plan equipment maintenance

x

x

x

x

Determine which OTC equipment will be maintained on what day and time and how long the equipment will be unavailable for use.

6

Plan surgery

x

x

x

x

Determine the time and date that the patient will be operated on and register this in the OR master schedule.

7

Order materials

x

X

x

x

Request specific materials for one specific surgery and order these materials at external supplier(s).

8

Preoperative screening

x

x

x

x

Determine what type of anesthetic technique fits the patient, what potential risks should be considered during the patient’s surgery, and what is the best preparation for the surgery of this patient.

9

Make appointment

x

x

x

Request visits to physicians, laboratory or radiology tests for preparation of the patient for the surgery.

10

Plan OTC nurses

X

x

x

X

x

Determine the working hours for every nurse anesthetist, OR, holding and recovery nurse for the upcoming week, including what surgeries they assist.

11

Control planning

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Check all requirements for the surgery to be able take place, determine the final order of the surgeries for each OR and if necessary revise planned surgeries.

12

Pick materials

x

x

x

X

Collect materials required for surgeries from the storage rooms and deliver these to the operating rooms.

13

Emergency admission

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Define diagnosis and treatment for patients admitted to the Emergency Department and plan and prepare the patient for surgery.

14

Prepare patient on ward

X

x

x

Admit the patient to the nursing ward, administer premedication to the patient and further prepare the patient for surgery.

15

Prepare patient in holding

X

x

x

Transfer the patient from the nursing ward to holding, further prepare the patient for surgery and transfer the patient to the nurse anesthetist.

16

Make Radiology image

x

X

x

x

x

Ask the radiology department to make an image of the patient in a specific place (OR or recovery) and time.

17

Perform surgery

x

X

x

X

x

Perform the surgery with the OR team.

18

Clean OR

x

X

Ask the cleaning services to clean the operating room right after transferring the patient to recovery.

19

Order emergency CSD services

x

x

Call the central sterilization department to ask for immediate cleaning and sterilization of medical instruments, as these may be re-used for surgery on the same day.

20

Patient care recovery

x

X

x

x

Take care of the patient after surgery, making sure the patient is well enough to be transferred to the nursing ward.

21

Aftercare of patient

x

x

x

Take care of the patient after surgery, making sure the patient is well enough to go home.

22

Manage OTC day program

x

X

x

x

x

X

x

x

x

x

Coordinate and manage the daily OR program, making sure that all surgeries planned for each day are well-executed and on time, and review this over time.

23

Manage OTC tasks

x

x

x

x

Coordinate and manage OTC operations over the long term.

Total number of tasks involved

8

7

2

2

1

1

1

1

4

8

1

11

1

8

2

5

7

1

1

3

1

5

8

6

2

3